38th Cha Bumkun Football Awards Held...21 Honorees
Cha Bumkun, chairman of Team Chabum, expressed his hope for South Korea to win the World Cup and called for nationwide support for the national team.
On the 26th, at the 38th Cha Bumkun Football Awards ceremony held at the HW Convention Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Cha said, "We have already reached the semifinals once, so shouldn't we at some point win the World Cup as well?" adding, "I really want to witness that moment while I am still alive."
Cha Bumkun, chairman of Team Chabum, attended the 38th Cha Bumkun Football Awards ceremony. Team Chabum
He offered words of encouragement to coach Hong Myungbo and his squad, who are preparing for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, now just over three months away. Cha said, "Now is the time to lift our players' spirits," before leading the chant, "Let's go, Korea! Let's go to the quarterfinals!" He continued, "When I was a player, I got excited and played even better because people around me kept telling me I was doing well, and that allowed me to succeed," stressing, "With the tournament just around the corner, we need an atmosphere in which everyone is giving them strength."
Cha recalled his time playing in the German Bundesliga in the 1980s and cited the example of Spain. "When I was in Germany, Spain was barely a team that made it to the round of 16, but now they dominate the world," he said. "With far more of our players now playing abroad than back then, we need to dream that we can do it too."
Senior and junior figures from the football community attended the awards ceremony and sent messages of support to Hong Myungbo and his team. KBS commentator Lee Youngpyo said, "Depending on how we prepare, it is a group draw from which we can achieve meaningful results," and predicted, "If the players show their abilities, advancing to the round of 16 is fully possible." Former national team defender Park Jooho highlighted the advantage of playing all three group-stage matches in Mexico and stressed the importance of the first match.
The Cha Bumkun Football Awards, established in 1988 to promote youth football development, marked its 38th edition this year. Korean football superstars such as Park Jisung, Lee Donggook, and Ki Sungyueng have all received this award in the past. This year, a total of 21 people were honored: 20 promising players, including 16 boys and 4 girls, and 1 coach. Cha urged the winners, "Look at your seniors such as Son Heungmin (LA FC), Lee Kangin (Paris Saint-Germain), and Hwang Heechan (Wolverhampton) and nurture even bigger dreams."
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